Let me start over. My lefever nitro special has serial number 206986. It has 30" barrels, auto ejectors, push botton releace on the forearm, it does not have side plates. The letters under the barrel is "4" and "2", I stand corrected on what they mean as to modified and full chioke. Two other letters are a big R on the latch and a smaller P. On the barrel is Lefever Arms Co. Ithaca.NY On the other barrel is Lefever Nitro Special. The reason I have asked for info is the fact that I see this gun as unusal.
I have a 20 and a 16 GA that are typical configuration for a nitro special. This 12 Ga is not Typical. If possible I would like to know why. I would appreciate any help anyone can provide. My email address is Vincent-assoc@earthlink.net. If this is a better way to communicate to me.

Thank's for clarifying...the information offered to you by myself and others still stands. I wouldn't know what the "R" and "P" markings relate to. Truthfully, even if there were something unique to them it probably doesn't make much of a difference in terms of value. Nitro Specials are good guns! But they are not a particularly popular collector guns...primarily because Ithaca produced so many of them.

It's a great old gun to USE! Go out and get a turkey with it this fall and all the guys with camo semi-auto guns will be impressed.

I have never seen a Nitro Special with a push button forearm release. However, I recently bought an F grade sideplate Syracuse Lefever for parts that had a non original forearm and forearm loop installed. I assume that the original loop and forearm were lost when the solder joint failed, and some gunsmith found non-original parts to make it work. A couple pictures of what you have may help to sort this out. But with a serial no. of 206986, and Nitro Special stamped in the barrel, it is no doubt a Nitro Special gun. The forearm may be something else entirely. Where, exactly is the "P" stamp?

I failed to mention that all repeat all serial numbers match. There is a serial number on the forearm wood and on the hardware on the forearm and the rest of the gun and they are all, repeat all the same. That is why I have asked the question. This gun is unique. It must have been a special order or something. Any suggestions? John

The numbers are supposed to be the same. We're you thinking they werent? Based on the number you gave us, you definitely have a Nitro Special. Beyond that, if there's something unique about it I wouldn't know enough to comment. As stated previously, Ithaca made a ba-jillion of these. They are solid, well designed, shotguns meant to be used. And it will give you good service.

But even if there's something unique about it, that likely doesn't matter much in terms of value. Nitro Specials don't have a collector following...they're just great for throwing in the boat or back of the truck. It will give you good service for either.

Sentry44,
What I have learned about the old Master Gun Makers including some of the 1st LeFever/Ithaca double guns is that some very high grade guns were made via special order, with certain names on them. Now granted not many of these cross over high grade guns were produce, and believe me you do not want to toss them in the back any boat or pick up truck. The Nitro Special covered the full spectrum of LeFever/Ithaca quality. As with L.C. Smith double guns, never say never about a LeFever double gun either. Now I do not know a lot about the LeFever guns yet, all thou my Grandfather owned a 5B that I foolishly sold to help pay for my deaf daughters college education, I am now learning more and more about the LeFever high grade double guns, and they are fantastic stuff. There are some very special made LeFever - Lefever/Ithaca Double Guns that people own and never talk about to anyone. I now happen to own one of those double guns.